- April 20, 2024
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Location draws students from throughout area.
The move from Daytona Beach to its current LPGA Boulevard location in 2008 has proven to be successful for Father Lopez Catholic High School, as enrollment has grown 80%. New facilities and a more accessible location have apparently combined to spur the increase.
Built in 1959, the high school's previous campus on Madison Avenue in Daytona Beach was showing its age after 49 years of operation. The enrollment at the old school had dropped from 409 in 1984 to 269 in 2008.
“The building was really old and there was no room for expansion,” school president Dr. Michael Coury said recently.
Next year’s enrollment is currently 482, an 80% increase over the 269 low. Enrollment for the semester just ended was 438.
Coury said new facilities, including up-to-date technology in the math and science labs, helped enrollment, as well as the location at 3918 LPGA Blvd., which is within easy access of U.S. 92 and Interstate 95.
The school draws students from throughout the area, including Sanford, New Smyrna Beach and Flagler County.
“It’s opened up a whole gateway,” he said.
Last year, 138 Father Lopez students resided in Ormond Beach, Coury said, and 26 students were from Flagler County.
Dr. Alfred Alson, of Palm Coast, said the 30-minute trip to the school was “well worth it.” He said his wife, Rosalia, drove their daughter, Jasmine, to the school each day and enjoyed “mom and daughter time.”
“It worked out wonderfully,” he said.
Don McMullin, of Ormond Beach, whose daughter, Alexis, recently graduated from Father Lopez, said he had been to the old school and said there was no comparison to the new school.
“It’s like a college campus,” he said. “And there’s room to grow. I can’t imagine what it will look like.”
The school sits on 95 acres, with space designated for baseball and softball fields, and tennis courts in the near future, if funding can be raised.
For the more distant future, there’s space for a performing arts center and another academic building, which would allow more students. The capacity of the current school is about 510, but Coury said but any growth would be handled carefully.
“We want to provide personal care and attention; the parents expect that,” he said.
Currently there is an education building, field house, chapel, administration building, media center, multipurpose building and a football stadium.
The buildings all face the center plaza. A large cross stands in the middle of the plaza, which recalls the large cross at St. Augustine where Father Lopez, who was a chaplain for Spanish explorers, landed in 1565 and conducted the first mass in the new world.
Coury said the school’s mission is to educate “the whole person.” The students take part in community service projects, such as Healthy Hands, where they package 24,000 meals for the needy.
“The best way to thank the giver is to share the gift,” Coury said.
The school has an open house in October, for any families that are considering the school.
“There are a number of excellent schools in the area,” Coury said. “It’s being a good parent to explore the options.”
